SOLO San Francisco WEEKEND
The CLIFT AND San Francisco
The Clift Royal is highly styled and trendy (designed by Phillippe Starke) and has its own popular bar the Redwood Room (celebs spotting). Located close to some of the main San Francisco attractions such as Union Square, Chinatown, Ferry Plaza and Fishermans Wharf.
Ferry PLAZA
Ferry Plaza and down by the waterfront is a great place to grab a coffee and have a wander. The plaza and Ferry building itself is home to an artisan food marketplace. Dinner at the trendy and modern The Slanted Door.
FISHERMANS WHARF
LOMBARD STREET
Lombard Street, the famously steep and winding road. Perhaps a novelty, but this hairpin road is strangely alluring and is worth a visit. I’d suggest walking down it as the traffic was nose to tail, which seems a bit pointless.
VIEWS OF Alcatraz Island
Visit Alcatraz Island, an island built for a lighthouse, military buildings, and a prison. Nicknamed the rock, the famously secretive island prison claimed to be escape-proof, despite what the 1979 movie Escape from Alcatraz will tell you. I haven’t been over to the island, but from Fishermans Wharf it’s a short ferry ride.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
If you haven’t been to San Francisco before, then
- Visit Golden Gate Park, a long rectangular park bigger than New York’s Central Park which is home to botanical gardens, the de Young Museum, a Japanese tea garden, and the outdoor athletics stadium Kezar Stadium, which was the former home of NFL’s San Francisco 49ers
- Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, a 1.6km (1 mile) long suspension bridge spanning the body of water between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This important bridge is often held as a symbol for California and San Francisco, especially visualized peaking above the low clouds and fog of San Francisco. For the best views, head to the Fort Baker side.
- Ride the San Francisco cable cars. Built in 1873, a cable car is a great way to see San Francisco.
- Take in a Baseball game at Oracle Park where even the cheap seats have a great view of San Francisco Bay.
If you liked this trip, you might also like this cycling adventure across Central America.